The Russian invasion of Ukraine has brought on a new set of economic conditions that are reshaping financial and commodity markets, said economists and market analysts of CoBank in a white paper. For the rest of 2022, global growth will be slower, and most commodity prices higher than previously expected, the white paper said.  Key … Read More

US beef exports soared to another new value record in March, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the US Meat Export Federation. A USMEF release also said March pork exports were the largest so far this year but well below the record-large totals posted in March 2021.   BEEF EXPORTS UP SHARPLY … Read More

Large commodity index funds, known as managed money, divested themselves of many of their long live cattle futures positions in the week ended Tuesday as hedgers covered many of their short positions. The data comes from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s weekly Commitments of Traders report.   MANAGED MONEY LESS LONG CATTLE   As of … Read More

Given the current situation, the prevent plant provision in crop insurance is a potentially important acreage issue, said agricultural economists at Ohio State University and the University of Illinois in an analysis in farmdocdaily. Smaller than expected South American soybean production, the Ukraine-Russia War, and little-to-no expected increase in US principal crop acres in 2022 … Read More

The monthly USDA Economic Research Service Meat Price Spread data for March showed retail beef prices remained elevated while pork and chicken retail prices hit record highs. A newsletter for Extension staff from the Livestock Marketing Information Center said March retail beef prices averaged $7.67 a pound, up $1.20, or 18.6%, from a year earlier. … Read More

The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer rose eight points in April to a reading of 121, said Purdue University Agricultural Economist James Mintert, in a release. However, the barometer remains 32% below its reading from the same time last year, Mintert said.  Producers’ perspective on current conditions and future expectations saw an uptick over … Read More

As spring weather slowly warms the Northern Hemisphere, the USDA’s boxed beef cutout value of choice, 600- to 900-pound carcasses seems stalled, unable to muster a decent rally, a market analyst said. By now, beef demand should be showing a marked rise in weekly prices for boxed beef at the wholesale level.  Instead, a quick … Read More